BEIJING: China’s foreign minister on Tuesday defended his stance on the war in Ukraine and his close ties with Russia, saying the United States must change its “distorted” attitude toward China or else. There will be “clash and collision”.
Speaking at a news conference on the sidelines of the annual parliament session in Beijing, Foreign Minister Qin Gang said the United States was engaged in suppressing and restraining China instead of engaging in fair, principled competition.
“America’s perceptions and views of China have been seriously distorted,” Qin said.
“He sees China as his main rival and most consequential geopolitical challenge. It’s like having the first button on a shirt misplaced.”
Relations between the two superpowers have been strained for years over a range of issues, including Taiwan, trade and, most recently, the war in Ukraine, but have worsened since the US shot down a balloon over the US East Coast last month. Which was said to be a Chinese. Intelligence skills
The U.S. says it is setting up checkpoints for relations and does not seek confrontation, but Qin said in practice that means not responding in words or actions to China’s taunts or attacks. Should.
“It is simply impossible,” Qin said at his first news conference since becoming foreign minister in December.
“If the US doesn’t put on the brakes, and continues to accelerate down the wrong path, no one can stop the derailment, which will lead to collisions and collisions, and who will suffer the catastrophic consequences?”
Qin compared the competition between China and the United States to a race between two Olympic athletes.
“If one side, instead of focusing on giving its best, always tries to outdo the other, even if it has to enter the Paralympics, it is not a fair competition,” he said.
‘Jackals and wolves’
During a nearly two-hour news conference in which he answered questions submitted in advance, Qin strongly defended “wolf warrior diplomacy,” an aggressive and Often has an abrasive stance.
“When jackals and wolves are blocking the way, and hungry wolves are attacking us, then Chinese diplomats must dance with wolves and protect and defend their home and country,” he said.
Qin also said an “invisible hand” was pushing to escalate the war in Ukraine to “accomplish certain geopolitical agendas,” without specifying who he was referring to.
He reiterated China’s demand for talks to end the war.
China struck a “no-limits” partnership with Russia last year just weeks before its invasion of Ukraine, and China has blamed NATO’s expansion for starting the war, echoing Russia’s complaint.
China has refused to condemn the attack and has staunchly defended its stance on Ukraine, despite Western criticism for failing to isolate Russia as the aggressor.
China has also strongly denied US allegations that it is considering supplying weapons to Russia.
Developing relations with Moscow
Qin said China must advance its ties with Russia as the world becomes more turbulent and close interactions between President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin anchor the neighbor’s ties.
When asked if Xi would visit Russia after China’s parliament session, which continues for another week, he gave no clear answer.
Since Russia invaded its southwestern neighbor a year ago, Xi has spoken several times with Putin, but not with his Ukrainian counterpart. Kiev’s top diplomat in Beijing said last month that it undermines China’s claim of neutrality in the conflict.
Asked if it was possible for China and Russia to abandon the US dollar and euro for bilateral trade, Qin said the countries should use a currency that is efficient, safe and reliable.
China is trying to internationalize its renminbi, or yuan, which gained popularity in Russia last year after Western sanctions forced Russian banks and many of its companies out of the dollar and euro payment system. .
Currencies should not be a trump card for unilateral sanctions, not a disguise for bullying or coercion, Qin said.
